British Rail Class 91 Locomotive Replacement Programme (Intercity Express Programme)
UK (East Coast Main Line) · 2017–present (introduction of Azuma fleet) · Part of the wider Intercity Express Programme, which had significant investment (e.g., £3.2bn-£3.3bn for total fleet mileage, though this is not direct cost of Class 91 replacement).
The judgement call
Account-gated at launch* Strategic decision to modernize the East Coast Main Line fleet with more fuel-efficient and higher-capacity trains. * The Intercity Express Programme aimed to replace aging InterCity 125 and 225 (Class 91) fleets.
Key engineering challenges
* Integration of new bi-mode and electric trains (Azuma) with existing infrastructure and operational practices. * Managing the phased withdrawal of the Class 91 fleet while maintaining service levels. * Addressing initial teething issues with the new Azuma fleet, including software and operational reliability.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Department for Transport; LNER (operator)
- Lead contractor
- Hitachi Rail (for Azuma fleet)
- Lead designers
- Hitachi Rail
- Project type
- Vehicle/fleet programme
- Scale
- Replacement of Class 91 fleet with 65 Azuma trains (Class 800/801); 60,000 extra seats.
- Disciplines
- Mechanical; Electrical; Systems
- Standards & frameworks
- RSSB; Network Rail standards
Sources: * British Rail Class 91 (Wikipedia) * British Rail Class 801 (Wikipedia) * LNER (lner.co.uk) * Modern Railways (modernrailways.com) * Railhub (railhub2.co.uk)